Itinerary

	City	Summary
1	Kyoto	Arrive at any time. Spend some time exploring the city on your own, until the welcome meeting, when you will meet your tour leader. Overnight in Kyoto | Meals Included:none
2	Kyoto	We kick off the tour at the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the site of the famous seemingly endless gallery of vermillion gates. And continues to many other sights. The itinerary is not fixed - plans include Kinkakuji (the Golden Temple), Ryoan-ji and the famous zen stone garden (or equivalent if you selected peak season), Arashiyama Bamboo Forest or another bamboo grove and a number of other magically beautiful sites for a full two days of Kyoto, selecting those best for the season to capture them at their most beautiful time. Optionally, for extra cost and on very advance notice, we can wrap up our first day with exquisite dinner, meet a maiko (apprentice geisha) and geiko (geisha) to learn about their lifestyle and enjoy their performance - and perhaps a conversation, depending on what tour encompasses in terms of interpretation skills your guide can offer you. Overnight in Kyoto | Meal Included:Breakfast
3	Kyoto	Our day continues visiting many sightseeing spots. One stop will be inside a local sake brewery to learn about the history and production process of one of Japan’s most iconic beverages. Enjoy an evening at leisure to explore Kyoto on your own. Overnight in Kyoto | Meal Included:Breakfast
4	Kyoto Nara Koyasan	Depart early and travel to Koyasan, a sacred site for esoteric Shingon school of Buddhism, located at the summit of a forested mountain. On the way towards Mt Koya, we will stop by Nara for 2-2.5 hours at your disposal to visit Todaiji temple for biggest bronze Buddha statue in the world, where we walk across Nara park full of deers. Depart Nara first thing in the afternoon to make sure you reach Mt Koya in the daylight. After arrival in Koyasan, we will stay in the mountain temple lodge. There are no planned activities, so you are free to stroll around the small town, and weather permitting,see moss covered Okunoin cemetery. In the evening, enjoy the shojin-ryori vegetarian cuisine served for dinner, and relax in yukata. ** During overnight stay at the mountain temple, please do not expect any 'hotel service' type of experience - the lodge is run by monks and is quite simple. Overnight in Koyasan | Meal Included:Breakfast & Dinner
5	Mount Koya Iya Valley	After attending an optional morning prayer ceremony, descend to Wakayama Port and ferry across to Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s main islands. Our home for the next two nights is in the Iya Valley, a lovely traditional ryokan with its own natural hot spring. Overnight in Iya Valley | Meal Included:Breakfast & Dinner
6	Iya Valley	Visiting various spots around hidden valley of Iya - famous Kazurabashi vine bridge, Double vine bridge in Oku Iya valley. These suspension bridges are made of intertwined vines and used to be the main means for people to cross the river. We will visit Ochiai village to witness scenes of village life, a community of traditional dwellings, some of which date from the Edo period (circa 1600-1870) and also the hauntingly unique Scarecrow village. Stunningly beautiful landscape of steep gorges is also one reason among many to visit this remote area. Overnight in Iya Valley | Meal Included:Breakfast & Dinner
7	Iya Valley Takamatsu Okayama	Next stop in Shikoku region is Takamatsu, famous for a number of things but most of all for its Ritsurin Garden, designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. Time permitting, you can visit Ritsuring Garden and Takamatsu castle grounds (called "castle on the sea", especially beautiful in fine sunny weather). Try local dishes for lunch and then take local express train across Setonaikai inner sea directly to Okayama, or select and buy takeout lunch as you ride the train across Japanese Mediterranean. Upon arrival, if weather allows, see Korakuen garden, or explore Okayama on your own. Overnight in Okayama | Meal Included:Breakfast
8	Okayama Hiroshima Miyajima	In the morning, we will make our way to Hiroshima where we will spend two nights. Soon after arrival, we will visit to Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum, which documents the atomic explosion that ravaged the city. After that, we will set off to the ferry port for world-famous Miyajima island. Overnight in Miyajima or Miyajimaguchi | Meal Included:Breakfast & Dinner
9	Miyajima	A full-day excursion on the UNESCO designated World Heritage Site, Itsukushima Shinto Shrine with its "floating" tori gate – one of the most photographed sights in Japan. Enjoy exploring Miyajima island at your leisure before dinner. Overnight in Miyajima | Meal Included:Breakfast & Dinner
10	Hiroshima St.	We will head to Hiroshima station and tour ends here. Your tour leader will be on hand until noon sharp to advise on how to purchase train tickets for onward journeys within Japan or to your departure airport. In peak season you might want to plan well ahead to avoid the situation when reserved seat JR tickets to your next destination are all sold out. Meal Included | Breakfast

** We offer other tours within Japan and can accommodate customized packages and quotes in combination with this one. Please feel free to inquire for more information from our agent.

Price

Season: All year

	Price per person
Tour cost	Please contact us
Single room supplement	Please contact us

**Price is for reference only. Price will vary depending on the actual travel dates, hotels to be used, etc. Please contact us for a quote.
** This is a general guideline for the tour. We welcome any changes in the types of activities included, duration of the tour as well as upgrades in accommodations, as you request.
** Tour price listed is per person, based on sharing twin rooms; please inquire for price quotes if your group is more or less than the group size limit mentioned.

Including :

Accommodation for 9 nights | English speaking guide | Private vehicle as per planned itinerary | Ferry and train tickets | Meals (9 breakfasts and 5 dinners) | All entrance fees to sites and activities listed in the itinerary
**English speaking guide will not travel together on ferry on Day5 and train on Day7.
**The cost of lunch meals during the tour is not included. You can buy food from the local convenience stores or eat at the local restaurants. Each person should prepare to pay for this individually on the spot.

Exclusive of :

Transportation to/from Japan | Domestic flight within Japan | Travel & Medical Insurance (Mandatory) | Daily Lunches & Additional Snacks | Personal Expenses (Souvenirs and Alcoholic Beverages, etc.)

Fitness Level 1.5 out of 5

Suitable for people of all ages who are in fair condition.

About Accommodation

Hotels in Iya valley and Miyajima may be traditional ryokans (Japanese-style hotel), with futon style bedding, where people will sleep on futon mattress laid out on the floor. During the overnight stay in the mountain temple of Koyasan, please do not expect any 'hotel service' type of experience because it is run by monks.